Cat box, nest box

Late yesterday afternoon I went to pick Cinnamon up and she squatted. This means that she is getting ready to lay.

This morning both Dandelion and Cinnamon attempted to get near to the patio but Peaches and Barley chased them away. Because they have been nervous of going to the patio right from the start it has become a game like the ladders were for a while. Whenever they attempt to get near the patio they get chased away.

This has already caused me to put another feeding station out in the run but now it is causing another problem. Where can the three amigos go to lay their eggs! I have never had this problem before.

Both Dandelion and Cinnamon have checked out the shelter and rejected it. I don’t want them to be stressed because they can’t get to a nest box.

I decided to use the cat box as another nest box in the run. At first I put it in the bottom part of the run near the food station.

Peaches, Barley and Emerald check out the new box

The three amigos are interested but can’t get near because of the bigger girls

I decided it was in the wrong place. It’s was too open there so I thought it would be better next to the shelter and at least it is half way towards the patio. Moving it meant it had to be inspected again.

I move it next to the shelter

Peaches and Barley, the two nosiest girls, inspect it

It’s not ideal as the shavings soon get scratched out but it will do as a temporary measure. It remains to be seen if the three amigos will use it. I am hoping that once the novelty wears off, the bigger girls will lose interest in it, and then the three amigos will have a chance to check it out.

If this works out my lovely husband is going to make a little wooden nest box. That way we can make it with a bit at the front to stop the shavings being scratched out and with a smaller opening so that it should put the bigger girls off and leave it available for the little girls.

I really hope that eventually the three amigos will get brave enough to go to the patio but for now I just need to solve each problem as they arise.

Other news is that Rusty seems to have come out of her broody spell. She was in the nest box first thing this morning and I took her out. I went back later with some spinach and took her out again. A little later I took her out again and found three eggs in the other nest box from Emerald, Speckles and Barley.

After that she stayed out and every time I checked during the afternoon she was still out. Hurrah!